Algeria: 2 Canadians among hostage-takers

In this image made from video, a group of people believed to be hostages kneel in the sand with their hands in the air at an unknown location in Algeria. Algerian de-mining teams were scouring a gas refinery on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 that was the scene of a bloody four-day standoff, searching for explosive traps left by the Islamist militants who took dozens of foreigners hostage. The siege left at least 23 captives dead, and the American government warned that there were credible threats of more kidnapping attempts on Westerners. (AP Photo/Ennahar TV) ALGERIA OUT, TV OUT

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria's prime minister says two Canadian nationals were among the band of al-Qaida-linked militants who stormed a natural gas complex and took hundreds of workers hostage.

Abdelmalek Sellal did not say Monday whether the Canadians were among the 29 militants killed by Algerian forces that stormed the site, or the three who were captured alive.

At least 37 hostages died in the attack, with five more unaccounted for, according to Algeria. The dead include seven Japanese citizens, Japan said Monday.

The militants had said during the four-day standoff that their band included people from Canada, and hostages who escaped recalled hearing at least one of the militants speaking English with a North American accent.